When it comes to integrating their E-Commerce stores with ERP systems, haste makes waste. Even though pre-built integrations offered by an ERP or E-commerce vendor are the path of least resistance for many, some businesses would benefit from third-party integration solutions. The optimal choice for you depends on a few important factors, which are elaborated below.

Native E-Commerce ERP Integrations

Native integrations between ERP and e-commerce platforms can come from either ERP providers or e-commerce vendors, though ERP providers more commonly offer these integrations as add-ons. These integrations are designed to unify various business processes, such as inventory management, order processing, and customer relationship management, into a cohesive system. Native integrations are built to fit seamlessly into the vendor's ecosystem, so they usually prioritize out-of-the-box functionality over flexibility.

Who Should Opt for Native Integrations

1. Businesses With Aligned Systems If your company already uses ERP and e-commerce platforms, and the vendors of that system offer well-matched native integrations or if both of these systems belong to same vendor ecosystem, do not overthink it and direct your attention to native integration tools. For example, for a business using SAP ERP with SAP Commerce Cloud, which is technologically aligned, with standardized APIs, SAP out-of-the-box integration is exactly the right way to go.
2. Businesses Prioritizing Speed of Deployment Native integrations typically have lower setup times since they are pre-configured for specific systems. They come with pre-defined data mappings, workflows, and connectors tailored for specific systems. For example, order replication from SAP Commerce Cloud to SAP ERP. These pre-built solutions usually require minimal setup steps such as:

• Authenticating both systems.
• Selecting or activating specific pre-defined modules (e.g., pricing sync or inventory sync).

This is a strong advantage for businesses that are in the process of launching new sales channels or preparing seasonal campaigns.

3. Companies With Minimal Customization Needs If the workflows and data exchange requirements of a business are straightforward and match the native integration's capabilities, native integrations are the way to go. Provided that your customization needs are limited to product synchronization, order processing, inventory updates, standard customer data synchronization, and basic financial sync.

To put it simply, choose native ERP E-Commerce integrations if scalability or advanced customization isn’t critical to your business operations.

Third-Party E-Commerce ERP Integrations

While native integrations are often ideal for businesses operating within a single ecosystem, they may fall short for organizations with unique workflows, multiple platforms, or more complex needs. This is where third-party solutions come into play. Third-party ERP e-commerce integrations are external solutions, typically provided by independent software vendors (ISVs) or middleware platforms, designed to connect an ERP system with an e-commerce platform. Third-party integrations are generally more customizable than native integrations, but their level of customization depends on whether they are pre-built connectors or custom-built solutions. Third-party E-Commerce ERP integration solution is a very broad category. It encompasses pre-built connectors, custom-built integrations, iPaaS (Integration Platform as a Service), middleware solutions for large-scale enterprises, and more. With some of these categories overlapping, we will not get more technical here and discuss the upsides and downsides of each category. Let’s rather focus on direct native integration alternatives - pre-built ERP E-Commerce integration solutions designed by third-party vendors.

Pre-Built Third-Party Solutions

Pre-built third-party solutions are ready-to-use integrations designed to connect specific ERP and e-commerce platforms. They automate key processes like inventory synchronization, order management, and customer data exchange. Popular examples include:

• Celigo’s Shopify-NetSuite Connector
• Pre-built templates by MuleSoft’s Anypoint Platform
• Pre-configured connectors by Boomi by Dell.

Customization Capabilities

Pre-built third-party integrations often allow limited customization, such as field mappings, workflow adjustments, or data transformations. For example, MuleSoft offers pre-built templates for ERP-e-commerce integration but allows businesses to tailor workflows using its low-code tools for advanced use cases.

Cost

While native ERP-commerce integrations are often perceived as cheaper due to vendor-provided support and pre-built features, third-party integrations can also be pre-built and affordable, depending on the provider, use case, and complexity of the integration. Third-party solutions are typically cost-effective for standard use cases, with pricing models ranging from one-time fees to monthly subscriptions. Customization or scaling beyond standard features can increase costs. For example, Boomi offers a subscription-based model starting with pre-built connectors but charges extra for advanced customization or large-scale implementations.

AtroCore – a Free Open-Source Integration Platform

AtroCore is an integration solution that does not fully fall into any of the categories mentioned above. Its uniqueness lies in its fully open-source nature which brings unlimited flexibility in integrating any external system through the REST API (as well as database queries or file exchange methods if either of the systems lacks API).
AtroCore provides fully automated, bidirectional data synchronization between ERP and E-Commerce platforms, which can run on a pre-configured schedule or be triggered by specific events. Typical use cases include syncing product data, prices, and inventory levels from ERP to e-commerce platforms, while customer data, order information, and delivery statuses can flow back to the ERP system.

Key Takeaways

Native integrations work best for businesses operating within the same vendor ecosystem, such as SAP ERP with SAP Commerce Cloud. They are suitable for those who need quick deployment, straightforward workflows, and cost-effective implementation when advanced customization is not required. Third-party pre-built solutions are better for connecting less compatible platforms from distinct vendors, like Shopify and NetSuite. They are also a great fit for businesses needing moderate customization, such as data transformations or workflow adjustments. These solutions are scalable and often use subscription-based pricing, which makes them suitable for growing needs. For highly specific workflows or complex multi-platform environments, open-source solutions like AtroCore provide the needed flexibility to design customized integrations at a lower cost.